There’s Secret to Being Most Lovable
Tim Bradley describes his dog as a cross between Billy Idol and Don King, a tea stained-looking pup with no hair other than a shock of white fuzz on its head. Last year, Bradley and the dog, Cuda, entered the look-alike contest at Long Beach’s BeachFest, a two-day celebration welcoming summer to Southern California’s shores.
“He’s about the same size as a house cat,” Bradley said of Cuda. “He kind of looks like a rat, with a pointed nose and ears. When we go on a walk, cats stalk him even when he’s on a leash.”
As Rodney Dangerfield might say, a dog like that can’t get no respect. So Bradley entered the BeachFest contest hoping to lift Cuda’s self-esteem. And it worked.
Bradley and Cuda won, which any other human might have considered insulting, especially since Cuda took first place in the BeachFest ugly dog contest the year before. But Bradley was honored. “I put on theatrical makeup to copy his pigment,” Bradley said.
He dyed Cuda’s fuzz fluorescent orange, spiked it into a “Blade Runner” sort of do, then wore a similar wig. “I told everybody (Cuda) started out as a 125-pound attack dog who was assigned to guard duty at Chernobyl,” Bradley said. “The funny thing is, people really believed me.”
This year, 4-year-old Cuda will enter the “Most Lovable” category, “but I can’t tell you what we’re doing to win,” said Bradley, 27, a Long Beach resident who works as an aerospace mechanic. “That’s a secret.”
Dog contests are just a small part of this year’s BeachFest, which begins at 11 a.m. Saturday in Shoreline Aquatic Park and continues through May 3. Wine and food tasting, along with a chili cook-off, pig races, music--from rock to country--and a mini-Indy race where celebrities compete in go-carts are among the diversions at the festival, held to raise money for Beach Charities, a local organization dedicated to helping the community.
Among the featured celebrities are Ed Arnold, KTLA sports reporter, Bones from rock radio station KNAC, Frank Bonner from the television show “WKRP in Cincinnati” and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jim Everett.
Saturday, May 2--The lineup of activities includes:
A jazz and blues festival on three stages sponsored by radio station KLON will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. featuring Code Red at 12:30 p.m., Tanya Bourchereau at 1:15 p.m., Charlie Jene at 2 p.m., Steve Guillory and the All-Star Band with Guitar Wooten on guitar and vocalist Sherry Pruitt at 2:45 p.m., YBD (Young but Deadly) at 4 p.m., El Espada at 4:15 p.m.
Car show featuring more than 75 classics.
Comedy sponsored by the Long Beach Comedy Club will begin at noon and continue until 4 p.m.
Several chefs from U.S. Navy ships will compete in a cake decorating bake-off from noon until 3 p.m.
Wine and Dine d’Elegance will feature wine and food from more than 50 restaurants and wineries in an all-you-can-eat tasting party and rare wine auction from noon to 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 3--Gates will open at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. The schedule includes:
More than 15 bands featuring oldies, rock and country music beginning at 9 a.m. Parasail rides, arts, crafts, food and games also are available throughout the day.
Pig races will begin at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Finals will be at 4 p.m.
The Dance Pavilion, featuring a deejay and top-40 hits, will open at 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Hot Sauce contestants go on the block at 1 p.m., followed by the Miss Shaka Beach contest at 2:30 p.m.
Ugly dog contestants are judged at 2:15 p.m.
The mini-Indy race, featuring celebrities and professional drivers competing in go-carts, has its final round at 3:45 p.m.
The chili cook-off winner will take the prize at 4:30 p.m.
Advance tickets to BeachFest are $8 and are available at Beach Charities, 230 Pine Ave., Suite 1, Long Beach. At the door, tickets cost $10 or $5 with military, senior citizen or student identification.
Advance tickets to Wine and Dine cost $30. At the door, tickets cost $40 or $25 with military, senior citizen or student identification. Admission to BeachFest is included in the price.
To get to Shoreline Park, take the Long Beach (710) Freeway south to 3rd Street or the Broadway exit and follow the signs for parking. For more information, call (310) 436-7727.
